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Baltimore Equitable Society Fire Mark

Description (Brief)

Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.

The Baltimore Equitable Society of Baltimore, Maryland issued this fire mark between 1794 and 1820. The mark consists of a rectangular wooden board with two clasped iron hands painted red at the top. The board has a wooden border around the frame. The Baltimore Equitable Society was founded in 1794 and is still in operation today. The “Sign of the Clasped Hands” fire mark is still available from the Baltimore Equitable Society, and comes in cast aluminum that is painted black overall, with hands and numbering in gold.

McCosker, M.J.. The Historical Collection of Insurance Company of North America

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